The New Mexico manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin, tied to the 2021 on-set death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, has officially ended. Prosecutors dropped their appeal of the case’s dismissal, marking a decisive end to the actor’s legal battle.
The First Judicial District Attorney’s office announced that Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey withdrew the appeal following guidance from the state’s Attorney General, which indicated limited support for further pursuing the case.
In July, a judge dismissed charges against Baldwin, citing concealed evidence regarding the live round that killed Hutchins. Baldwin’s defense maintained from the start that the tragedy, which occurred during the filming of Rust, was not a criminal act.
Baldwin expressed relief through his attorneys, who declared this decision as “final vindication.”
Hutchins was fatally shot during a rehearsal when Baldwin pointed a firearm toward the camera, as directed. Despite Baldwin’s claim that he never pulled the trigger, investigations revealed that the firearm would not discharge without the trigger being pressed.
The live round was traced back to the production’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter earlier this year.
This incident remains one of the most significant on-set tragedies since Brandon Lee’s death during filming of The Crow in 1993. While such events often lead to civil settlements, this case has reshaped discussions about safety protocols on film sets.
As the legal battle ends, the focus now shifts to preventing future tragedies in an industry still reckoning with the lessons of the past.
